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I was wondering if anyone could tell me of a book or guide to flash paper. I know almost nothing about it (other then what I have seen) and I want to learn more about it. It's pretty impressive visually and I think it might fit my style.

Thanks

The only comprehensive guide (that I know of) to flash paper and other flash products, proper handling and so forth is "Special Effects with Fire & Smoke" published by Theatre Effects, Inc.

Other than that, if you do a search, you'll find quite a lot of posts from myself that cover proper handling and storage of flash paper. I think, if you search "nitrocellulose" you'll have good results.

Mike.

Theatrically, flash paper can have great uses as a misdirection.

Just recently I purchased the David Stone 'Real Secrets' DVDs, and he uses flash paper to great effect in there.

...Then, there's 'literal' uses, effects like 'In a Flash' by Jay Sankey—where flash paper is integrally used in the effect—not just as a 'flourish'.

...THEN there's times that flash paper or flash effects can be used literally for flourish... neither misdirection OR effect, just a bit of razamatazz... such as, when vanishing a cane, etc.

Great utility!

I'd recommend you start small with flash pads... a hopeless plug here (http://www.nothingupmysleeve.co.uk/mark ... cts_id=233) but I do stock them in various colours...

Bear in mind, a tiny 1" x 1" square of paper balled up will burn rapidly in a flash big enough to conceal a coin reveal.

Some 'flashy type' things about paper...

1. It doesn't always look like 'real' paper. It's a bit like cross between tissue paper and copier paper.

2. It is shipped damp... it needs drying out before use. This is for storage purposes... it keeps it safer.

3. Small amounts of paper can be enough!

4. Flash paper burns fast, and won't leave residue... but it DOES cause heat! It will definately burn you!

5. Always bear in mind that flash paper can only be ignited by a flame (unless using a finger flasher or other ignition source). Therefore, it makes sense that you'll need a cigarette lighter or matches to 'fire it up'... and these items need to be somehow brought into play!

6. DO NOT repeat DO NOT use flash paper in confined spaces... it will usually 'Drop' like a ball of fire from your hand, so hold it way ABOVE a table or surface, or even throw it upwards slightly. The flames cannot be stopped once it's started, and for the few seconds it can burn, it's descent may take it onto a carpet, table or clothes.

7. PRACTICE with flash paper before performing. Get to know the limits of it and the logistics of it's burn time, etc. Definately wise if you're performing to the public!

seige wrote:Theatrically, flash paper can have great uses as a misdirection.

Just recently I purchased the David Stone 'Real Secrets' DVDs, and he uses flash paper to great effect in there.

...Then, there's 'literal' uses, effects like 'In a Flash' by Jay Sankey—where flash paper is integrally used in the effect—not just as a 'flourish'.

...THEN there's times that flash paper or flash effects can be used literally for flourish... neither misdirection OR effect, just a bit of razamatazz... such as, when vanishing a cane, etc.

Great utility!

I'd recommend you start small with flash pads... a hopeless plug here (http://www.nothingupmysleeve.co.uk/mark ... cts_id=233) but I do stock them in various colours...

Bear in mind, a tiny 1" x 1" square of paper balled up will burn rapidly in a flash big enough to conceal a coin reveal.

Some 'flashy type' things about paper...

1. It doesn't always look like 'real' paper. It's a bit like cross between tissue paper and copier paper.

2. It is shipped damp... it needs drying out before use. This is for storage purposes... it keeps it safer.

3. Small amounts of paper can be enough!

4. Flash paper burns fast, and won't leave residue... but it DOES cause heat! It will definately burn you!

5. Always bear in mind that flash paper can only be ignited by a flame (unless using a finger flasher or other ignition source). Therefore, it makes sense that you'll need a cigarette lighter or matches to 'fire it up'... and these items need to be somehow brought into play!

6. DO NOT repeat DO NOT use flash paper in confined spaces... it will usually 'Drop' like a ball of fire from your hand, so hold it way ABOVE a table or surface, or even throw it upwards slightly. The flames cannot be stopped once it's started, and for the few seconds it can burn, it's descent may take it onto a carpet, table or clothes.

7. PRACTICE with flash paper before performing. Get to know the limits of it and the logistics of it's burn time, etc. Definately wise if you're performing to the public!

Seige that's interesting you say flash paper can be used well as misdirection because my magician friend did just that. First he tried doing the watch steal with sponge balls or coins, failed each time for a total of 3 times. He then took a small amount of flash paper, did a coin vanish with the flash paper where you fold the coin up in the paper (found in mark wilsons complete guide to magic) as he did the watch steal. Worked perfectly everytime. They are so concentraited on the other hand that they totally don't notice the watch come off! He's practiced for only a couple weeks and so far has done about 6 watch steals all succesful with flash paper! One person even gave him his watch to keep because he was so impressed by the trick.

He persudaded me to buy some.

Also becareful with it because I was told if you leave the flash paper in a hot car this can set it off. I keep mine locked up in a metal box.

As many others have, I have ended up with a burnt finger after using too much flash paper onstage. It was for the production of a silk from a ghost tube.
It was a big flash though and the audience went "oooh!" as they would at a spectacular fireworks display, so a singed index finger was small sacrifice in the pursuit of art and the production of pleasure for a group of people.

Proud member of the Mark Louis sycophant club.

Amen Mike...

I've heard some GREAT theories about flash paper from people who've bought from my shop... one customer said "Is it dangerous to use my mobile phone near it, only they tell you not to at the fuel station..."

There are two or three ways to REALLY ensure that flash paper is safe...

1. If it's shipped DAMP, in a ZIPLOCK BACK, then KEEP IT DAMP, in a ZIPLOCK BAG until you need it

2. Don't buy/sell to under 16 year olds

3. Under NO circumstances use it as a toy. It's actually very dangerous.

4. Only use as much or as little as you need to per-performance.

and most importantly...

5. ALWAYS READ AND HEED!!!!!!

Michael Jay wrote:

I keep mine locked up in a metal box.

I am generally against laws that stop people from doing things that they want to do, but when I read comments like this, I start thinking that flash paper purchases should require a license.

Keeping flash paper in a locked, metal box is about the stupidest thing that anyone could do. This is why I say to use the search function and look up posts on nitrocellulose.

Because I am tired of explaining the physics of this every damn time this subject pops up, I will give you the truncated version:

Metal boxes conduct heat. Storing flash paper in something that conducts heat is stupid.

Metal boxes oftentimes do not allow for expansion of gasses when accidental ignition occurs. As a result, low explosives (which is specifically, precisely and exactly what flash paper is - a low explosive) stored in metal boxes, under an accidental ignition, explode. This causes loss of fingers, hands, limbs and in extreme cases, life.

So, if you want to learn how to handle and store flash paper as safely as possible, then use the search function.

But, whether you decide that you can't be @rsed to search this important material or not, then let me explain, in no uncertain terms:

DO NOT STORE FLASH PRODUCTS IN METAL BOXES.

Mike.

Wow mike, you really don't have to be ....such an *rse about it.
I bought it and my dad told me to store it in a metal box. My parents will not let me store it out of a metal box.

SpongeBallSlight-of-hand wrote:

Michael Jay wrote:

I keep mine locked up in a metal box.

I am generally against laws that stop people from doing things that they want to do, but when I read comments like this, I start thinking that flash paper purchases should require a license.

Keeping flash paper in a locked, metal box is about the stupidest thing that anyone could do. This is why I say to use the search function and look up posts on nitrocellulose.

Because I am tired of explaining the physics of this every damn time this subject pops up, I will give you the truncated version:

Metal boxes conduct heat. Storing flash paper in something that conducts heat is stupid.

Metal boxes oftentimes do not allow for expansion of gasses when accidental ignition occurs. As a result, low explosives (which is specifically, precisely and exactly what flash paper is - a low explosive) stored in metal boxes, under an accidental ignition, explode. This causes loss of fingers, hands, limbs and in extreme cases, life.

So, if you want to learn how to handle and store flash paper as safely as possible, then use the search function.

But, whether you decide that you can't be @rsed to search this important material or not, then let me explain, in no uncertain terms:

DO NOT STORE FLASH PRODUCTS IN METAL BOXES.

Mike.

Wow mike, you really don't have to be ....such an *rse about it.
I bought it and my dad told me to store it in a metal box. My parents will not let me store it out of a metal box.

he isn't being an "*rse", he's being helpful to you. He's telling you about safety issues. Do you want to have your metal box explode causing "loss of fingers, hands, limbs and in extreme cases, life." I personally like living.

Yep, I'm an *rse...

And a proud member of the Mahk Looass sycophant club.

Michael Jay wrote:Sorry, I don't mean to be an @rse...I really don't. I just cannot impress upon you enough that keeping flash products in a metal box is nothing more than an accident looking for someplace to happen.

Even gun powder is stored in cardboard (or plastic) casks. There is a reason for this.

Smokeless powder, like flash paper, is a low explosive. If stored in metal, it will explode under an accidental (or on purpose) ignition.

It's physics, man, just physics.

Again, I apologize for being an @rse. I'm just trying to save you a digit or two, or possibly a hand, arm or your life. This isn't a small matter - this is a BIG deal.

I strongly urge you to talk with your father about this and explain to him the EXTREME danger in storing flash products in metal. Get your flash paper the hell out of that metal box. Get it out now.

Store your paper (as Seige suggests above, damp is best) in a cardboard box in a cool place in your house, where it does not come in contact with sunlight.

But, whatever you decide to do, get it the hell out of that damn metal box. Your life may just depend on this. No joke. And, if you do this thinking to yourself what an @rse I am, I don't care - as long as you DO this.

Trust me, I know, based on over 30 years of fire handling, flash product handling and loading bullets with gun powder - I KNOW.

Mike.

Mike, thank you for the apology. It wasn't nesscary I admit I was being kind of an @rse too. I took it out of the metal box, my mom let me. She is really agianst me using it.

I put it in a ziplock bag away from sunlight. I have a cardboard box to put it in, isn't this bad though because it's cardboard and cardboard can catch on fire?

Also mike, whats your opinion on using flash paper as misdirection for the watch steal?

Oh, and one more thing. The person I bought it from told me I should store it in my refridgeator. This should keep it damp. Should I do this?

Just another question, what do you all think of flash cotton? I understand its different from flash paper but again I don't know anything about it.

We're all sucking big looass dicks now, eh?

Gosh, I was looking forward to purchasing some flash paper, but this thread has scared the absolute hell out of me.

I'll leave producing roses and decks from a burst of flame to another day.

TheAge wrote:Gosh, I was looking forward to purchasing some flash paper, but this thread has scared the absolute hell out of me.

I'll leave producing roses and decks from a burst of flame to another day.

You can't be 18 an actually be scared by a piece of paper that burns in 2 seconds. There are extreme examples but as long as you keep it away from an open flame until necessary you will be fine. I just keep mine in my drawer with all my cards and the like. You don't really need to take all the extra precautions of keeping it damp etc. Just be smart with it and you will be fine